Annie Mac's Before Midnight: Clubbing That'll Have You Home At A Reasonable Hour

Laura Reynolds
By Laura Reynolds Last edited 18 months ago

Last Updated 03 May 2023

Annie Mac's Before Midnight: Clubbing That'll Have You Home At A Reasonable Hour
Previous Before Midnight events have all taken place indoors. Image: Redd F via Unsplash

DJ Annie Mac has announced a new London date for her popular club night series, Before Midnight.

For the uninitiated, Before Midnight is an event for anyone who enjoys a lengthy DJ set, but still likes to be in bed at a reasonable hour, with events wrapping up... before midnight.

The former Radio 1 DJ launched Before Midnight in May 2022, and has held events in London, Glasgow, Manchester and other cities, usually kicking off at 7pm, for five hours.

Though initially aimed at slightly older clubbing audiences — perhaps those with children who can no longer stay out as late as they once did — Before Midnight has proven popular with partygoers of all ages. Beyond the appeal of getting some sleep at a reasonable hour, it's a great option for anyone worried about their safety travelling home from a night out in the small hours. Looking at it through a wider lens, it's another example of London's nightlife shifting earlier in response to it being so difficult to get a late licence.

The latest show, just announced, is a bit different. For a start, it's the first time that Before Midnight has been held outside. It's a "huge 8-hour summer day party", taking place in Finsbury Park on Friday 11 August.

Running 2pm-10pm, it finishes even earlier than previous events, though that's likely a condition of the event taking place in Finsbury Park. There's an ongoing battle between local residents and event organisers about the scale of events being held in the north London park, with noise, crowds, facilities being closed, and damage to the park all causing issues.

At time of writing, tickets for Before Midnight at Finsbury Park haven't yet gone on sale, but sign up here to find out when they do — if previous events are anything to go by, they'll sell out fast.

Keep an eye out for other future Before Midnight events, and have a look at our guide to music festivals in London in 2023.